Truck driver killed in I-71 wreck identified

The driver of a semi tractor trailer was pronounced dead at 1:16 p.m. Monday along Interstate 71 near the Ohio 13 exit. The Mansfield post of the Ohio Highway Patrol is handling the crash.
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Emergency crews work to extricate the driver of a truck forced off the road by a passing car on Interstate 71 Monday. The driver, a California man who had not been identified at press time, died at the scene. The truck was forced off of the southbound lanes about 2 miles north of the Ohio 13 exit shortly after 12:30 p.m. A car attempting to change lanes got caught up in slush and hit the tractor-trailer, according to Lt. Amy Ivy, commander of the Mansfield post of the Ohio Highway Patrol. "The semi went into the guardrail, down the embankment and overturned," Ivy said.(Photo11: Jason J. Molyet/News Journal)Buy Photo

MANSFIELD - The driver of a truck forced off the road by a passing car on Interstate 71 died at the scene Monday afternoon, according to the Mansfield post of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Mnatsakan Ghazaryan, 58 of North Hollywood, California, died from injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle crash Monday on I-71 southbound near mile marker 171, between the Ohio 13 and Ohio 39 exits in Richland County.

The patrol reported a 2018 Honda Civic driven by Gabriel A. Binkley, 21, of Katy, Texas, was traveling southbound on I-71 in the left lane, passing a tractor-trailer in the center lane.

Binkley lost control of his vehicle and went into the center lane, striking the tractor-trailer in the left side, according to the patrol, which reported the crash happened at 12:44 p.m. Monday.

The tractor-trailer then traveled off the right side of the road and struck a guardrail before traveling down an embankment and overturning.

Lt. Amy Ivy, commander of the Mansfield post of the Ohio Highway Patrol, said, "The semi went into the guardrail, down the embankment and overturned."

Ghazaryan, who was trapped in his vehicle, was pronounced dead at 1:16 p.m., according to Bob Ball, an investigator for the Richland County Coroner's Office.

Ghazaryan's body will be taken to the Montgomery County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.

Washington Township and Mifflin Township EMS, the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Richland County Coroner’s Office assisted at the scene of the crash, which remains under investigation.

lwhitmir@nncogannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @Lwhitmir

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Emergency crews use ropes to reach the scene of a fatal accident on I-71 on Monday afternoon.(Photo11: Jason J. Molyet/News Journal)